East Montana Water customers face more delays on proposed rate hike, bills could near $200

EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14/CBS4) — Thousands of customers in El Paso County’s East Montana Water System are still waiting to learn whether their monthly bills will increase, after county commissioners delayed a vote three times while raising broader questions about the system’s long-term costs and ownership.

The proposal would raise water rates by 10 percent and sewer rates by 5 percent for the county-owned system.

For a typical customer receiving both services, the estimated monthly bill would rise from $134 to $144.

Under longer-term forecasts presented to commissioners, the average combined bill could eventually approach $200 a month.

El Paso County Commissioner Jackie Butler said the county court’s concerns go beyond this year’s proposed increase, after commissioners were shown projections that included a 10 percent increase for the next fiscal year followed by 10 percent increases for the next five years.

“We were presented with a forecast of increases, totaling 10% for this next fiscal year and then 10% increases for the next five years thereafter,” Butler said.

“And I think that when we saw that presentation, I personally had a lot of questions about the sustainability of those types of increases.”

County officials have said rising wholesale water costs, aging infrastructure and a $6 million water-tank project are driving the request.

While the future forecasts are not part of the final vote, Butler said they raised questions about whether customers could afford continued increases.

“Just raising rates year after year could potentially price people out of having running water in their homes,” Butler said. “And we don’t want to do that.”

Butler said the system serves about 12,000 customers, including communities that have historically lacked water and wastewater infrastructure.

She said she is still trying to determine the system’s limits and whether a smaller increase could cover costs.

“I’m trying to understand: Do we actually need a 10% increase? Could it be lower? Could it be zero this year if we could afford it?” Butler said.

“And make sure that we’re doing everything we can to avoid increasing rates for people this year and moving forward.”

Commissioners are also exploring whether a different ownership structure or a new partnership with El Paso Water could lower costs.

El Paso Water already sells water to the county and operates and maintains much of the system, but Butler said questions remain about who owns and is responsible for different parts of the infrastructure and what would happen to existing grant funding.

“There’s a lot of gray areas here that I think we’re still trying to get more clarity on and understanding,” Butler said.

“And I think that until we’re able to clearly define those lines, we won’t know how to move forward in a partnership with El Paso Water.”

Commissioners are expected to take up the proposal again on Monday, Sept. 21.

If approved, the new rates would go into effect starting Oct. 1.

Tags: